Community October Grants Report

Community Grants Report
November 2019

PEPC, Pony Express Partnership for Children (PEPC)

Washington County Opportunity Fund, $1,000, Awarded 4/23/2018

Project Summary: PEPC looks to expand into Washington County to provide rental/utility assistance, home toiletry
items/diapers, and resource and referral services to residents. PEPC wishes to collaborate with local community
resources to further enhance our outreach.

Use of Funds: Five families/individuals received utility assistance. Two families/individuals received rental assistance.

Impact & Results: Overall, PEPC was able to provide emergency assistance to seven families with the money
provided through the grant awarded to us. Five families were provided with emergency utility assistance and two
families received rental assistance as was suggested in the grant proposal. Some of these families reached PEPC staff
by coming in to the Washington County Health Department during PEPC’s office hours on Friday, but more received
assistance by contacting our Marysville office directly. We have found that very few people visit during our office
hours at the Washington County Health Department. On only five occasions over the past grant year did we hand
out toiletry items from the Washington County outreach office.

While the numbers may seem small, overwhelmingly, we know PEPC’s presence is growing in Washington County.
Throughout the grant year, PEPC served a total of 33 unduplicated Washington County families, a total of 39 times.
These 33 families included 44 adults and 36 children. Needs that were met in these instances included utility
assistance, rental assistance, toiletries/diapers, help completing an application for food stamps, PEPC purchasing
a birth certificate for a family member, gas cards, assisting a family with a stove, and referrals to our GED program,
Infant Toddler Services, and Early Head Start. During the grant cycle, we served 10 homeless Washington County
families in our Family Support Program providing rental assistance on a step-down scale, along with weekly in-
home case management services. PEPC Case Management staff has helped to ensure that all of these families have
gained and maintained employment, and provided early intervention screenings for their children and referrals
when necessary.

A mom with three children came in. Their electricity was in danger of being shut off. Her youngest child has multiple
health issues and requires many medical appointments in Kansas City. These appointments and the travel eat into
the family’s budget and other bills are sacrificed; in this case, the electricity. Thanks to the funds we received from
the WCCF, we were able to pay the family’s bill to the electric company and not only keep the family’s lights
on, but keep their medically fragile son in a safe and stable environment.

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City of Greenleaf, City of Greenleaf park restroom upgrade

Washington County Opportunity Fund, Buckshot and Christine Buchanan Fund,
$1,226, Awarded 4/24/2019

Project Summary: The City of Greenleaf would like to upgrade the bathrooms in the south City Park. We would like
to put in handicap toilets as well as redo the plumbing, interior walls, and paint the interior when all is done. We
would also put a new roof coat on.

Use of Funds: The grant funds were spent solely on the materials needed to update the park bathrooms. The funds
were spent on construction materials, plumbing materials, toilets, and paint.

Impact & Results: As a result of the project, the City of Greenleaf now has an updated restroom in the park on the
south end of town. The old bathrooms were in need of repair and this was an outstanding way to accomplish this.
The community and any visitors to the park will now have an updated restroom facility to use next season. The grant
made this vision a reality by providing the funding to get the project done. When one goes on vacation, especially
with children, there are frequent restroom stops. One always remembers where the “nice” restroom facilities are, and
Greenleaf wanted to be one of these for anyone that stops or uses the facility. There has been a lot of work done to
this park over the past seven years and having updated restrooms to go along with the other improvements is now a
reality thanks to the grant funding. The City of Greenleaf is very appreciative.

Clifton Public Library, A Universe of Stories

Clifton Community Fund, $300, Awarded 4/24/2019

Project Summary: Library summer reading program.

Use of Funds: I spent the money on books that the kids
received at the end of the season.

Impact & Results: If we did not get this grant we would not
be able to give a book at the end of summer reading. Our
library is a very small building. At one of the story times we had 39 kids under the age of seven. It was a wild day to
say the least. With so many littles we kept our crafts easier than usual. This was a change we will keep from now on.
The crafts went much smoother than usual. We also had double the older kids at our crafts days. We usually had at
least 15 here every week. We also learned if they take part in the book we are reading they have a much better time.
In a town of 500 having 50 kids through your library is an accomplishment. They did much better at listening by the
end of the program.

City of Clifton- New Beautification Committee, Clifton Street Sign project

Washington County Opportunity Fund, Clifton Community Fund, $1,400, Awarded 4/24/2019

Project Summary: we have done a few fundraisers and just sent alumni lettesr to replace Clifton’s non ledgable
signs. Depending on total money raised depends on amount of new street signs. We have raised a totaled of
9000.00 to date and looking to raise 13,000.

Use of Funds: For the purchase of new street signs

Impact & Results: This has been a tremendous project for the city of Clifton. The street signs are now legible and it’s
amazing the difference. We were able to complete the whole city with the grant we received from you.
Once again the whole community has been impacted by the completion of this project.

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